Universally mountable clothesline fastener



Feb. 28, 1967 T. D E 3,305,904

UNIVERSALLY MOUNTABLE CLQTHESLINE FASTENER Filed Dec. 18, 1964 IN VENTOI? ROBERT T. DUARTE United States Patent Ofiice 3,305,904 Patented Feb. 28, 1961 This invention relates to an improved, universally mountable clothesline fastener.

More specifically, this invention relates to a clothesline fastener that may be placed on a line to hold objects and may be placed on the line in an infinite number of positions.

In the prior art, there have been numerous variations of clothesline fasteners, but the users of these fasteners have always experienced a basic problem that arises when the line fasteners are placed in a bag or container for storage. Each time another fastener is needed, the person hanging the clothes or objects 'must reach blindly into the bag or container to select another fastener. Because the pins or fasteners are generally oblong in shape, the user has difficulty in determining whether the pin or fastener is right side up until the pin or fastener has been removed from the bag or container. If the pin is upside down, the user must fumble with the pin to change its position. This is complicated by the fact that the clothespin users other hand is usually occupied by the manipulation of the garments or objects that are to be hung. Windy and blowing weather add further difficulties to this manipulation of the fasteners.

The clothesline fastener to be described hereafter eliminates the above noted problems in that the fastener is universally mountable. The user need not ever determine which side is up.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a universally mountable clothesline fastener.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clothesline fastener that has a multiple of clothes gripping surfaces.

Still another object of this invention is the creation of a clothesline fastener that may be readily manufactured at very low cost.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a clothesline fastener that may be easily stored for subsequent use in a variety of manners.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent after consideration of the following detailed specification together with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a three dimensional illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention in actual usage;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a clothesline fastener taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a typically sectioned universal fastener with one side pressed together.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 in which there is illustrated a typical arrangement utilizing the invention to be described hereafter.

There is shown secured to a clothesline 19 two clothesline fasteners 11 and 12, one of which is shown in partial section for purposes of illustration only. Each of the clothesline fasteners 11 and 12 is basically composed of two flattened annular disks 13 and 14 which have been joined at a central portion 18. These flattened annular disks 13 and 14 have at their outer periphery inwardly projecting lip portions 16 and 17. The function of these inwardly projecting lip portions 16 and 17 is to enhance the gripping of the clothesline 19 at two distinct points on the line 19 as can best be observed from a study of the left hand portion of FIG. 1, where the clothesline fastener 11 is shown gripping the garment 21 at two distinct gripping points 23 and 24. These two gripping points which will always be present when the clotheslint fastener is placed on a line, such as clothesline 19, servr an important function of insuring the multiple gripping of the garment to be held on the line 19.

The clothesline fasteners 11 and 12 may be formed 0: any suitable plastic material. They may be made intt their present form by injection molding or they may bt formed from solid rods of plastic or metal by conven tional lathe operations which would form the lip portion: 16 and 17 in a wholly conventional manner.

The clothesline fasteners depicted are shown to be 0: a plastic material, but it is to be understood that th invention contemplates the utilization of other material: such as metal in the form of stamped annular disks whicl could then be spot welded at the central portion to pro vide the necessary point of fiexure for the clotheslinr fastener.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of a typical clothes line fastener showing the relationship of the clothesliut 19 to the garment 21 and the lip portions 16 and 17 which are located at the periphery of flattened disks sides 13 and 14. The central portion 18 joining thes two flattened sides 13 and 14 should be of a resilien material in order that some flexure can occur at this poin of interconnection.

The flexure of the clothesline fastener is best seen in 2 study of FIG. 3 which shows a thumb and index finger 26 and 27, in a gripping relationship to a clotheslint fastener 28. As can be seen in this figure, the pressing together on one side of the clothesline fastener 28 spread: apart the diametrically opposite sides of the clotheslin fastener to thereby enhance the insertion of the line anr garment between the gripping areas of the clotheslinr fastener.

In all three of the figures, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there i: illustrated a centrally bored opening 22. This centrally bored opening may be utilized to assist in the mounting of the clothesline fastener on a suitable rod element no illustrated in the figures. The rod which has not beer illustrated may be mounted near the clothesline and a: the clothesline fasteners are needed, they may be with drawn from the rod and placed on the line. On th other hand, if the clothesline fasteners should be storec within a container, whenever one is needed, it may b readily withdrawn from the container with no concert whatsoever as to whether or not the clothesline fastenei is in the correct attitude for insertion on the line, be cause no matter what way the clothesline fastener i: picked up, it is universally mountable on the clothesline in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

It is therefore evident that the new and improvec clothesline fastener presents a most unique solution to the problems that have plagued the homemaker using prior art clothespins which were described at the outset.

It should be further understood that while the embodiment described is directed to the use of the describec fastener for garments, the fastener may be used for an gripping function where a line or wire is involved.

While there has been 'hereinbefore described What is considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that many and various changes lanc' modifications may be made with respect to the embodiment illustrated, without departing from the spirit anc scope of the invention. It will be understood, therefore that all changes and modifications as fall fairly withir the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claim are to be considered as part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

A universally mountable clothesline fastener to be mounted on a clothesline comprised of (a) two flattened annular disks spaced apart and joined at a central portion of said flattened annular disks to provide a clothesline fastener that may be slipped over a clothesline fitting between said fiattened annular disks, and

(b) said central portion having a resilient characteristic to thereby permit said flattened disks to be pressed together at any portion of said periphery which results in said flattened disks separating diametrically opposite the pressed together portion to thereby facilitate the gripping of said clothesline,

(c) said flattened annular disks each having a continuous peripherally located inwardly projecting lip,

(d) said clothesline physically cooperating with said inwardly projecting continuous lip so as to always provide two distinct gripping points on the periphery of each of said flattened disks to thereby always provide a multiple gripping action upon said clothesline and any object to be secured to said clothesline in a completely universal manner so that the clothes- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 36,394 9/1862 Cone.

309,669 12/1884 Wheatley 24-137.5 1,481,978 1/1924 Bice 24-137.5 2,632,930 3/1953 Donahue 24137 X FOREIGN PATENTS 145,439 2/ 1952 Australia. 1,159,796 2/1958 France.

688,260 3/1953 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Examiner. 

